DFW05LA179

The 1,600-hour commercial pilot was maneuvering during an aerial application flight when the airplane impacted terrain and came to rest upright in a rice field. The first ground scar was a wheel impact mark located on a field road approximately 40 yards east of where the airplane came to rest. There were no reported witnesses to the accident. Despite repeated attempts by the Investigator-In-Charge (IIC), the operator/pilot did not return a completed Pilot Operator Aircraft Accident Report Form (NTSB Form 6120.1/2).

On July 12, 2005, about 1700 central daylight time, a single-engine Air Tractor AT-502B agricultural airplane, N9086V, was substantially damaged upon collision with terrain while maneuvering at low altitude near Hickory Ridge, Arkansas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained serious injuries. The airplane was registered to, and operated by Brunette Flying Service of Hickory Ridge, Arkansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The local flight departed a private strip near Hickory Ridge, Arkansas, at an unknown time.

A law enforcement deputy, who responded to the accident site, reported that it appeared as if the pilot was flying in a northwesterly direction during an aerial application flight when the left main landing gear impacted a perpendicular positioned field road. The airplane subsequently impacted into a rice field and slid for approximately 100 feet before coming to rest.

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector performed an on-scene examination of the wreckage. The inspector reported that the turbine powered airplane came to rest upright in a rice field on an easterly heading. All major components of the airplane were located at the accident site and there was no evidence of a fire. The first ground scar was a wheel impact mark located on a road approximately 40 yards east of where the airplane came to rest. The inspector further reported that both wings and the fuselage sustained structural damage.

The pilot reported on his most recent medical application that he had accumulated a total time of 1,600 hours with 400 hours logged in the last 6 months.

There were no reported witnesses to the accident. Despite repeated attempts by the Investigator-In-Charge (IIC), the operator/pilot did not return a completed Pilot Operator Aircraft Accident Report Form (NTSB Form 6120.1/2).